440 Starter Removal

[7dcuda]

I need to remove a mini starter from a 70 Cuda with a 440, headers and manual steering box but I'll be dang if it looks like there's enuf room to get it out.  It's enclosed by the header, torsion bar, steering shaft and frame.  It looks like in my case the easiest thing to do will be unbolt the header since the mounting bolts are easily accessible but what a pain to have to do that just to remove a starter.  What have others done and are there any tricks or easy solutions to this?

[Rich G.]

When I had headers I unbolted them and threw them in the garbage and put the exhaust manifolds back on. 😊

[Skdmark]

On my 383 with headers and OEM starter, you have to unbolt the header and manuever it out of the way. PITA

[dodj]

With my Hedman Elite headers, I just loosened the bolts so the header could move a little bit. It gave me enough room to replace the mini starter. Easy job compared to doing it with a '70's starter.

[pschlosser]

When I had headers I unbolted them and threw them in the garbage and put the exhaust manifolds back on. 😊

I drove a 383 car with headers for a couple of years.  I went through three reman starter motors in 14 months before I figured out the headers were cooking my starters and killing them off.  It was then I trashed the headers and went back to OEM exhaust manifolds.  But going back to (nearly) stock exhaust wasn't cheap, because I had to pay a shop to resolve the flanges to the existing pipe.

[7dcuda]

Ended up unbolting the header and got it out....but what a PITA just to remove and replace a starter.

[pschlosser]

Ended up unbolting the header and got it out....but what a PITA just to remove and replace a starter.

If the pipe come close to the starter, I recall a recommendation to add insulation to the header pipe in this area to better protect the starter from heat damage.

[7dcuda]

If the pipe come close to the starter, I recall a recommendation to add insulation to the header pipe in this area to better protect the starter from heat damage.
[/quote]

I haven't had heat soak problems but since I was replacing the starter for the first time since owning the car I put a DEI starter blanket on it.

[MoparLeo]

Pictures tell the story...